Apparatus for playing games.



W. C. LOWTHER.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING GAMES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27' I916- 1,216,338.

Patented Fb. 20,1917.

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W. C. LOWTHER.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING GAMES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 27, 1916.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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Application filed March 27, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER COLLIS Lowruns, land agent, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hurst Side, River Bank, East Molesey, Surrey, England, have invented a new or Improved Apparatus for Playing Games; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to apparatus for games of chance to be played by two or more players, and in which the player obtaining the highest, or any given, number, is proclaimed the winner.

The apparatus, in accordance with this invention, consists essentially in a device in which a metal ball, marble, or the like, is rolled down an incline into a globe or sphere where it meets with various obstructions, all tending to change the direction of its travel, and, emerging therefrom, passes through one of several tubes or channels or grooves which conducts it into one of several numbered pockets or divisions formed in a tray attached to or formed upon the device where it finally rests. The player rolling the ball is credited with the number in the pocket or divisions occupied by the ball and by arrangement between the players beforehand the one obtaining the highest number in a single round, or the highest aggregate in two or more rounds, is deemed the winner.

And in order that my invention may be fully understood I will now describe the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a convenient manner of forming the device in accordance with the said invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the globe end of same, and

Fig. 4 is a section through line XX. Fig. 1 showing particularly one of the ball or marble deflectors made use of.

Figs. 5 and. 6 are respectively side elevation and plan of an additional deflecting device which may, if desired, be made use of.

Similar letters 'of reference indicate like parts throughout, where occurring.

or is a platform or bed of an oblong shape formed at one end with a number of pockets or divisions I) each marked with a numeral (see particularly Fig. At its other end,

Specification of Letters Patent.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING GAMES.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917..

Serial No. 86,929.

in suitable brackets 0 provided thereon the sphere or globe d is mounted. This latter is preferably made in two halves hinged together as at (2, Figs. 1 and 2. Thus the interior is rendered easily accessible while a chain such as f, Fig. 1, or other equivalent means may be made use of to prevent the upper half sphere being turned too far back on its hinge, and a locking device 9 may be used to securely hold the two parts in posi tion when closed. A is the inclined chute leading from near the front end oi": the apparatus to the upper part of the globe or sphere cl which latter may be formed with a smaller globular receiver cl at the top into which the chute it leads and which receiver communicates with the sphere or globe at aforesaid. h is a tray formed at the free end of the chute it into which the balls or marbles are placed and from which they roll down the chute into and through the globe (Z.

A number (corresponding to the number of the pockets or divisions b) of inclined tubes or channels is lead from the lower part of the globe or sphere d to the several pockets or divisions b aforesaid (one to each). i z are branch pipes or tubes con necting the said tubes Z9 to the globe or sphere oil.

The ball or marble runs by gravitation down the chute it into the sphere or globe (Z, through which it passes into one of the inclined tubes and emerges finally in one of the pockets or divisions I). And the object of my invention being to render it extremely uncertain as to which of the pockets or divisions the ball will settle in and thereby increase the element of chance in the game being played. I provide in the interior of the globe (l a variety of obstructions to the ball in its traverse through the globe which serve to continually alter its course, and which obstructions are so arranged that it becomes a matter of impossibility to in any way direct or control the movement of the ball, once it is set rolling.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a variety of the ball deflecting devices arranged within the globe (Z and which I employ, in accordance with this invention, for the above expressed purpose, that is to say Z is a swinging funnel which, though not so shown. may be corrugated, conveniently suspended by chains m to the interior of the upper part of the globe (land placed immediately below the ball inlet to the globe.

Within the funnel Z and in the course of the falling ball I fit a cone shape deflector n which may conveniently be supported loosely upon a bracket arm 0 from the inner Wall of the funnel Z in such manner as to be inclined vor tilted by the impact ofthe ball or marble. This deflector may also be corrugated or ribbed or a three or four bladed propeller or fan may be suspended from the top so as to catch the ball and revolve with it. From the deflector a the ball falls on to the side of the funnel Z and its contact therewith causes the latter to swing or sway within the globe, (suspended therefrom as it is by the flexible connections m), and the ball is caused thereby to take an uncertain course.

A dish or basket shaped device having a perforated bottom and as illustrated separate'ly in Figs; 5 and 6may be used as an alternative to the above swinging funnel, or

- as an addition thereto if desired. The percourse through the globe (Z.

forated bottom of the device may be conveniently formed of the crossed wires 2) attached at their ends to the wall q of the de vice to which latter are also connected the chains '1" by which'it is suspended within the globe (Z in suchmanner as to be capable of swinging therein when the falling ball makes contact therewith, as it pursues its Inthe lower half of the sphere or globe (Z I fit a bell dome s which not only still fur ther deflects the ball in its traverse through the globe (Z but will be caused to ring by the balls impact therewith.

V ner surface of the lower part of the globe (Z and be still further deflected before reaching its ultimate destination.

The device above described may be used in conjunction with any game that is played by numbers, thus forming an interesting means of obtaining numbers by chance as are now usually secured 'bythe throwing of dice, or the spinningfof a tee-to-tum.

lVhatI do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a game apparatus the combination of abase having a plurality of pockets, a hollow member supported by the base, a plurality of inclined chutes communicating respectively at 'one end with the pockets and at their other end with the interior of the hollow member, and a single inclined chute supported from the hollow member and communicating with the interior of the latter above the points of communication between the member and the chutes which deliver to the pockets.

2. In a game apparatus the combination of a base having a plurality of pockets, a hollow member supported by the base, a pinrality of inclined chutes con'nmmicating respectively at one end with the pockets and 'at their other ends with the interior of the hollow member, means for delivering objects intothe hollow member above the points of commnnication between the member and the chutes, and means for changing the course of objects passing through the hollow member under the influence of gravity.

3. In a game apparatus the combination of a base having a plurality of pockets. a hollow member sui iportcd by the base, a plurality of inclined. chutes (aumnunicating respectively at one end with the pocket and at their other ends with the interior of the hollow member, means for delivering objects into the hollow i'nen'ibc' above the points of comnninication between the member and the chutes, and a deflector swingingly suspended within the hollow member for changing the course of objects passing through the hollow member under the influence of gravity.

i. In a game apparatus the combination of a base having a plurality of pockets, a hollow member supported by the base. a plurality of inclined sheets communicating respectively at one end with the pockets and at their other ends with the interior of the hollow member means for delivering objects into the hollow member above the points of communication between the member and the chutes, a downwardly tapering tubular member swingingly suspended within the hollow member, and a conical deflector supported within the tapering tubular member and positioned to be engaged by objects during their passage through the hollow member under the influence of gravity to dcllcrt said objects against the tubular member to swing the latter and thus change the course of said objects.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W Allllllt OLLl S I K )WTHE It.

i tnesses ARTHUR TUMBo, A. A. TAYLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, a Washington, D. 0. 

